Massachusetts
Governor
Maura Healey (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Supermajority
Senate Party
Democratic Supermajority
Key Offices & Links
45
17
Northeast
Progress by Policy Area
- Enacted
- In-progress
- Partially Enacted
- Not Enacted
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Massachusetts
Status | Policy | Policy Area | Policy Category | YR Enacted | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enacted |
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2025 and 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) Implementation Advisory Committee Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2012 | |
Enacted |
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Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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33% by 2025 | 50% by 2030 | 75% by 2040 | 85% and net-zero by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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The 1990-2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in March 2023. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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Requires certain facilities seeking air emissions permits in or near communities with EJ populations to conduct a cumulative impact analysis that includes meaningful public involvement of EJ populations. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2024 | |
Enacted |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | |||
Enacted |
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EEA – Environmental Justice Task Force EEA – Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity EEA – Director and Deputy Director of Environmental Justice DEP – Director of Environmental Justice DPU – Environmental Justice Contact Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
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"Environmental justice populations" are neighborhoods where the median household income is 65% or less of the statewide median, minorities comprise 40% or more of the population, 25% or more of households lack English proficiency, or minorities comprise 25% of the population and the median household income does not exceed 150%. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2021 | |
Not Enacted |
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Environmental justice (EJ) community investment requirements help ensure communities most impacted by environmental burdens are benefitting equitably from public programs by requiring a certain percentage of funds and/or benefits from other policies are allocated to EJ communities. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
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Massachusetts 2020 EJ Populations Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2020 | |
Enacted |
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Energy Transformation Advisory Board Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | 2024 | |
Not Enacted |
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Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Enacted |
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Office of Energy Transformation within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | 2024 | |
Not Enacted |
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Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification. |
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | ||
Enacted |
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Massachusetts Community Climate Bank Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Climate Finance | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covers the electricity sector. Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | 2007 | |
Enacted |
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The Department of Public Utilities must consider the social cost of carbon when assessing the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency and demand-reduction programs, and when issuing funding for energy efficiency programs. Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | 2021 | |
Enacted |
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2021 | ||
Enacted |
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Energy Pathways to Deep Decarbonization Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2020 | |
Enacted |
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53% reduction by 2025 | 70% by 2030 | 93% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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Massachusetts has an active community choice aggregation program. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | 1997 | |
Enacted |
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The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
5/5
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
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The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
8/11
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Partially Enacted |
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The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
4/6
|
Electricity
|
Clean Energy Generation | ||
Enacted |
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200 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity by 2020 and 1,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) by 2025 Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | 2018 | |
Enacted |
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Massachusetts received a C grade from Freeing the Grid. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage | 2023 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. |
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers. |
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2021 IECC. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2021 IECC. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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The Stretch Energy Code is 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments, and the Specialized Code is a municipal opt-in code that is designed to ensure new construction is consistent with the state's target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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The Appliance Efficiency Standards apply to 15 products. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | 2021 | |
Not Enacted |
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Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | ||
Enacted |
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Electric utilities are required to reduce cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 504,000 metric tons for 2022-2024. Gas utilities are required to reduce cumulative GHG emissions by 341,000 metric tons for 2022-2024. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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Massachusetts has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2016 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
4/4
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. |
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Electrification | ||
Enacted |
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The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) Program offers rebates for new and used electric vehicles (EVs): up to $3,500 for new or used battery and fuel cell EVs, and an additional $1,500 rebate for income-qualifying applicants. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2014 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Massachusetts LEV Program Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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Model Year (MY) 2026: 35% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The Low NOx Omnibus Rule applies to Model Year 2025 onwards. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | 2021 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
By 2035: 55% of Class 2b-3 truck sales are zero-emissions | 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales are zero-emissions | 40% of Class 7-8 tractor sales are zero-emissions. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | 2022 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) Program provides rebates of up to $7,500 for new battery or fuel-cell electric pickup trucks and other Class 2b vehicles, with additional rebates for income qualifying drivers. Rebates between $15,000 and $90,000 are offered for medium- and heavy-duty battery electric and fuel cell Class 3-8 vehicles, depending on vehicle class. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles | 2014 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
100% of transit bus purchases by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) are zero-emission by 2030 | 100% of MBTA's transit bus fleet are zero-emission by 2040 Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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5% of the state fleet are ZEVs by 2025 | 20% are ZEVS by 2030 | 75% are ZEVs by 2040 | 100% are ZEVs by 2050 Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | 2021 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rebates offer rebates to make the purchase and/or installation costs of EV charging infrastructure more affordable. |
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | ||
Enacted |
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Requires at least one EV supply equipment (EVSE) charging port in new or fully reconstructed parking areas with up to 25 spaces and two ports in parking areas greater than 25 spaces; also requires at least 20% of parking spaces to be EV Ready in parking areas with 10+ spaces. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | 2021 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging infrastructure plans are documents that provide a framework to guide the development, coordination, and adoption of EVs and EV charging infrastructure. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) is a market-based mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and account for the fuel's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. |
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
18% by 2025 | 34% by 2030 | 86% by 2050 Relative to 1990 levels Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | 2021 | |
Partially Enacted |
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Massachusetts is ranked 1st out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
4/5
|
Transportation
|
Public and Active Transportation | ||
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Buy clean requirements mandate or incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as concrete and steel, in public projects to address embodied carbon. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Industrial Decarbonization | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The state prohibits the use of certain HFCs in refrigeration equipment, air conditioning chillers, aerosol propellants, and foams that are manufactured or used in Massachusetts. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
F-gas Regulations | 2020 | |
Enacted |
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The state sets a maximum annual SF6 leak rate of 1%, and requires owners to maintain their equipment in accordance with industry standards to reduce leakage of SF6. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
F-gas Regulations | 2017 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Oil and Gas Regulations | ||
Enacted |
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Natural gas operators must meet annual declining methane emission limits. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Oil and Gas Regulations | 2021 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
Food waste ban – The state requires businesses and institutions that generate more than 0.5 tons of food waste per week to dispose of organic material via composting or anaerobic digestion. Establishing Policies
|
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | 2014 | |
Not Enacted |
Empty column
Landfill methane regulations include rulemakings, emissions monitoring, emissions control, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from decaying organic waste in landfills. |
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The Massachusetts Coordinated Soil Health Program supports produce and dairy farmers in implementing soil health practices. Establishing Policies
|
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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The Healthy Soils Farmer Consultant Program provides farmers who are newly adopting healthy soils practices with access to farmers who are experts in specific healthy soils practices, while compensating experienced farmers fairly for their time. Establishing Policies
|
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 2021 |